Rotary cleaning tool



April 17, 1951 F. J. WALTERS ET AL 2,548,923

ROTARY CLEANING TOOL Filed Aug. 20, 1945 as 27 2o 2 26 24 2a 3/ 30 a2 333mm Homer B. Nelson Fig. Frank J. Walters Patented Apr. 17, 1951 ROTARYCLEANING TOOL Frank J. Walters and Homer B. Nelson, United States NavyApplication August 20, 1945, Serial No. 611,670

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

2 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This invention relates toimprovments in hydraulic turbine tools for cleansing metal, wooden, orother surfaces of dirt, paint, and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a rotary tool for cleansingsurfaces that is motivated by hydraulic pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a turbine cleansingdevice that is driven by hydraulic pressure and at the same time thefluid escaping from the turbine jets furnishes a rinsing effect on thesurface being cleansed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic turbinecleansing device that combines the impact of fiuid from the turbine jetswith the rubbing action of the abrading elements on the turbine tocleanse, polish, or scrape the surface operated upon.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a cleansing devicethat will remove paint or other surface coatings from metal, wooden, orother similar surfaces without damage to the surface itself.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic turbinedevice that is provided with detachable brushes which may be used as ascrubbing element and may be removed and substituted for an abrasiveelement to be used for scouring or polishing metal, wooden or othersimilar surfaces or may be substituted for an element carrying teeth tochip rust barnacles or the like from hulls of ships or boats.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe discussion proceeds and is considered in connection with theaccompanying claims and drawings wherein like characters of referencedesignate like parts throughout and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and partial plan view of the toolembodied in this invention, with V a scrubbing brush attached;

Fig. 2 is an end plan view of the tool embodied in this invention; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detached brushing element, abrasiveelement and chipping element embodied in this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustrationis shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 4designates a forked tubular Y frame or handle havin fluid passages 5which serve the dual purpose of 2 ber such as a webbing or the like I2rigidly held inside the frame 5, as shown. A cylindrical high pressuredrum I4 is rotatably carried upon the end portions of the Y frame 5, asshown. At spaced intervals around and along the drum are reaction jetnozzles I8 having the openings disposed at an angle substantially asshown. Affixed to the outer surface of the drum, in any suitable manneras by welding, riveting, or the like, and spaced longitudinally betweenthe rows of jets, are retaining U-shaped lips or channels l9, adapted toslidably receive a curved plate-2'0 carrying suitable brush bristles 2|of some wearresisting waterproof material such as a phenolic resinbrush, of a scrubbing element. When it is desired to use the tool as anabradant the curved plates 20 carrying the brushes 2| are removed fromthe drum and a plate 20a carrying an abrasive 49 such. as a waterproofCarborundum is inserted into the iJ-shaped channel l9. When the tool isto be used as a chipper or scraper, plates 20b carrying high carbonsteel lugs or teeth 5!] are substituted for the brushes. The backs 20,20a, and 20b.are held in place by means of pins or screws 22. When thetool is used as a scrubbing element the tips 23 of the bristles 2|,adjacent the jets l8, and in line with the spray therefrom, are taperedoff at 23, as shown, so that water from the said jets will not impingeand dissipate itself upon the said bristles. L

A tubular shaft 24, rigidly supported by end portions 25 of the Y 4, andcommunicating with the fluid passages 5, supports a bearing housing l5.At spaced intervals in the said shaft 24 are fluid openings 26 whichpermit passage of fluid into the drum I4. The sum of the cross sectionalareas of the openings 26 is equal to the sum of the cross sectionalareas of the passages 5 in both arms of the Y 4. This specific size ofthe openings 26 is to permit unrestricted flow of fluid into the drum l4from the tubular passages 5.

The bearing housing l5, rotatably supports the said drum at each end,and. consistsof a circular plate 21 fitting into the ends of the drum M;as shown. An inner depending flange 28 of they said drum rotates aroundbut spaced away from, the shaft 24 and forms an annular recess 29, asshown, which carries a fluid pressure sealing ring consisting of aleather or fabric Washer 30 held against the said shaft 24 by aretaining spring 3 I The washer 30 is held in the circular plateZ'l by anut 32 having spanner sockets 33 for tightening the nut, as shown. Aball, roller, or other anti-friction bearing 34 rotatably supports theend plate 2! on the shaft 24. An outside bearing seal 35 prevents theentrance of foreign matter into the bearing 34. The said bearing 34 isslide ably or press fitted into the plate 21, as shown, and faces on itsinner circumference against an 3 annularioffsetzorsshoulder 36. .inzthe;shaft 24, as shown. This arrangement holds tthebearing and drum inproper position between the arms of the Y. A second plate 38, held inplace by screw as: holds the bearing 34 in the plate 21.

In order to permit assembly of the shaftZi-"into' the Y and to hold thesamearigidiy in ;place:while at the same time permitting passage offluid from the tubular channel 5 into. the said shaft, it is necessarythat some form of removable fluid connection such as a shaft support 46be provided. The said support 40 carries threads 41 and screws into theend 25 of the Y 4. Adjacent the end of the support opposite thethreadsis a depending lip 46 adapted to firmly receive the end of theshafti2'4. Pressure seals 42, such as Urings, are provided, as shown,between the support and the Y and the shaft to prevent fluid leakage.The center of the said support is formed into a hollow cylinder and isin open communication with the fiuid passage 5--by means of holes 43,and a channel 44 provided within the end25'of the said Y communicatinglikewise with the fluid passage 5. Thesaid channel 44- is such thatregardless of the radial position of the holes 43 the volume of fluid"passing through the holes-Will be the maxi mum furnished bythesaid-passage 5 An insert plug 45, carriedin the end'of the supportMextending into the hollow cylinder, as shown, restricts turbulenceand'maintains a uniform cross sectional area in the fluid passage asdirection offiow changes. Thisarrangement permits the drum andbearing'to be assembled complete and then inserted into'the Y. The shaftsupport i!) isthen screwed'into'place'by-means of a spanner wrench (notshown) adapted to fit the spanner sockets' l'I-and whentightened'locks'the shaft 24 firmly in place.

It istobe understood that thebearing housing andshaft'support bearingdescribed in' detail is but" one of severalforms thatcould beiusedwithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

In operation fiuidsuch as water is carried'underhigh pressure throughthehose. 6 through the Y 4 into thedrum I4thence out the jets 18.Reaction of the fluid through the said jets causes the drum to rotate.manually to the surface to be cleansed, polished, scraped, or chipped.The rotary action of the brush, abradant, scraper, or chipper loosensthe foreignmatter. from the surface operated upon. The impact ofthefluid from the jets, also-acting on the surface operated. on, assists.in loosening the foreign matter from the surface. When the tool is usedas a brush the bristles 2| .aidediby the fluid from the jets have asufficiently strong scrubbing, action to loosenforeignmatter such-asdirt, grease, and .even .paintsbut wilLnotdamaee the surface acted upon.It istobenoted that this tool. is: particularly valuablefor cleansingboats and'the like,,as. it will. remove the surface material butwill notdestroy the caulking. When it is desired to use this toolasa polisher orthe likethe backs 20 andthe brushes 2] are removed from the U channel l9and thebacks 20a carrying waterproof Carborundum poli'shers 49 or thelike are inserted" into thesaid channel and the tool is then" manuallyapplied to the surface to be -polished; the impact from the'jets (aswhen the tool is used for a brush) washes the surface and at the'sametime also aids in loosening-any foreign material present dueto theimpact of the-fluid. Whenthetoolis to be'used as a scraper The tool isthen. applied 'or: chipper. banks: 2% providedwithhigh carbon steelteeth or other similarlyhard teeth 50 are fitted into each of thechannels 19 and the tool is then manually applied to the surfaceoperated uponas in the other cases.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith. shownand described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or thescope of the sub-joined claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the paymentof any royalties thereon or therefor.

What we claim is:

1. In a device of the character described the combination of a hollowtubular handle with a Y- shaped end having a pair of fluid'outlets, saidhollow handle being adapted to be connected to a source of fiuid underpressure, a support having a removable bearing threaded into the end ofeach outlet, each support having a passageway communicating with theassociated outlet, a drum rotatably mounted onthe bearings, means forsubstantially preventing turbulence in said drum including afixed'hollow liquid delivery tube eX- tending through the drum-betweenthe bearings, said tube being provided with a plurality of :openingswhose, total cross sectional area is equal to the sum of the crosssectional area of'theifiuid passages in the Y-shaped end, a plurality ofaxial rows of tangential jet orifices in said drum, and removablescrubbing members secured to the surface of said-drum between'said rowsof jet'orifices said members having beveled edges adjacent thedownstream end of the jetsso as to-substantially prevent any impingementof said jets on said edges whereby a surface to be cleaned maybesubjected alternatingly to the friction of each scrubbing member and tothe impinging action of each row of jets successively;

2. A device as characterized in claim 1' having further turbulencepreventing members including a conically-ended fiuidfiow diverting plugfixed to each of said supportsaxially in said passage.- ways, saidpassagewayswith said plugs therein also having a cross-sectional areavvequal to the sum of the cross-sectional areaofthe fiuid passages in theY-shaped' end.

. FRANK .1. WALTERS.

HOMER B. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The; followingreferences are of record .inzthe file ofthis patent.

UNITED. STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date.

673',960 Looker May 14, 1901 1,471,748 Miller 0015.23, 1923. 1,597,644Wiener Aug, 24, 1926 2,205,249 Fitzgerald et al June 18., 1940 2,281,773Kollmann May 5', 1,9142v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 383,631Germany Oct. 15, 1923' 572,750 France June 12, 1924 193,300 SwitzerlandDec. 16, 1937

